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National Health Care week

Cannon County Community Health Center, one of the 14 sites of the Upper Cumberland Primary Care Project, is celebrating National Health Center Week 2015 to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America's health centers, the largest and most successful system of primary healthcare.Health centers have compiled a significant record of success that includes:

Reducing income and ethnic health disparities nationwide, even in the poorest and most challenged communitiesReducing infant mortality ratesProducing $24 billion in annual health system savingsReducing unnecessary hospitalizations and unnecessary visits to the emergency roomMaintaining patient satisfaction levels of nearly 100 percentHealth centers serve more than 23 million people nationwide - that's one in 15 Americans, including 7 million children. Health centers are also increasingly becoming the trusted provider of choice for many families, whether or not they are insured. Evidence shows patients choose health centers because they are convenient, affordable and offer a range of services from a team of caring professionals. Studies also show the quality of care at a health center is as good as or even better than private practices. "Every day in our waiting rooms I witness the value of having a patient-centered medical home," said Andrea Fox. "When people have a place to go for regular medical care, they use it and stay healthier. We provide a range of services onsite. Our patients not only get the care they need under one roof, but are treated as individuals, with dignity and respect. This is what health care should be, and what we celebrate during National Health Center Week."Although local solutions, health centers need sustained federal investment to meet the growing demand for their services and help more Americans gain access to affordable healthcare. To learn more about health centers and the #Access is the Answer campaign, please visit the National Association of Community Health Centers at www.nachc.org or to go www.healthcenterweek.org.

Learn more about the Tennessee Department of Health online at tn.gov/health.